Even for high-growth technology companies that performed fairly well during 2020, 2021 capital-spending decisions are being made with significant restraint and apprehension. The ongoing rollout of promising COVID-19 vaccines notwithstanding, the pandemic’s far-reaching effects on consumer behavior, the labor market, wages, office space, technology and supply chains, to name a few, have made it more difficult for chief financial officers (CFOs) to make ordinary budgeting and big-ticket spending decisions this year.

In this article, we explore how CFOs can find creative ways in their budgets to keep employees happy and productive.